By Ali Al-Hasnawi, Contributions by Martin Tsvetanov
MISSISSAUGA — On Friday, November 23, Meadowvale Secondary School hosted three plays, two written by Woodlands’ own Martin Tsvetanov and Ayla Sitwat, and another by Peel student Shaharah Gaznabbi. The event enjoyed full attendance by many students and parents, and all of the $5 tickets sold out.
The Meadowvale Student Wrights Festival is an organized event that gives students from across Mississauga the chance to write and direct their own play. The students get around two and a half weeks to prepare for the show, which is typically spent editing their script draft and directing rehearsals after school.
One of the three plays shown during that evening was titled The Truth Within Us All. The play was written and directed by Woodlands School students, Ayla Sitwat and Aneeq Ahmad respectively. The play revolved around the story of a girl who does not feel beautiful and is constantly mocked by two devils on her shoulders. With the help of friends and family, she overcomes her insecurities and discovers the beauty within her. The play discussed themes of self love and the change of beauty standards due to social media.
Woodlands student Martin Tsvetanov wrote and directed one of the other plays, a modern social commentary called Maney. The play focused on issues including consumerism, fake news, and materialism. The story was set in a future Canada, where those in the upper-class wasted money on useless things, such as a BowlWithHole™, a GlassHammer™, and a Non Water-Resistant Umbrella™. The “HappyPolice”, a sinister shadowy organization, coerced people to buy and spend money on things that they did not need. The currency of this dystopia was human death, where transactions would only be completed when exchanged peoples of the lower class died. The play was meant to touch on issues like sweatshops, dangerous work environments, and human trafficking.
In addition to the two performances on Friday, Meadowvale Secondary School presented another play titled The Deathmaking Decision written by Peel student, Shaharah Gaznabbi, and directed by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. The play focused on the consequences of people’s actions on Earth which affect their life after death. It followed the story of a selfish lawyer who, after dying in a car accident, was immediately placed in Hell because of his inconsiderate actions while alive, such as missing his brother’s birthday and neglecting his girlfriend. He then had to convince the judges of Hell and Heaven that he was righteous enough to go to Heaven.
The Student Wrights Festival will be held again next year, so pick up those pencils - or InklessPens™ - and start writing. You never know, your original work could be accepted at next year’s festival!
Contributed to by Martin Tsvetanov
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